Lakeshore Aviation mechanic Jeremy Trousil provides expert repairs and maintenance for a wide variety of planes at the Manitowoc County Airport.

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John Lorbiecki is the crew chief for a supersonic F-16, part of the Wisconsin National Guard fighter jet fleet based at Truax Field in Madison.

Currently an E-6 specialist, Lorbiecki is seeking his Air Force 2nd Lieutenant officer's commission as he then trains to be a pilot in one of the $20 million-plus planes owned by the American public.

But last week, Lorbiecki was at the Manitowoc County Airport as a student getting instruction to earn his "taildragger endorsement." That means he'll be able to fly planes with tailwheels that often are putting down at back-country grass strips so pilots ...